Buyer Rail Assets/Project Manager

Key responsibilities of the position: 

Strategic Procurement & Sourcing

• Identifying Needs: Work closely with various departments to understand their requirements and forecast future needs.
• Market Research: Conduct research to identify potential suppliers, evaluate their offerings, and compare them against organizational needs.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure a reliable supply chain.
• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for rolling stock and modular assets tailored to cyclical steel industry demands.
• Lead competitive tenders (RFI/RFP), negotiations, and supplier evaluations with a focus on total lifecycle cost.
• Drive contract structuring and renegotiations, ensuring flexibility, long-term value, and risk mitigation.
• Negotiation: Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms with suppliers to secure the best possible deals for the organization.

Cost reduction and fleet management strategy

• Develop the procurement strategy for your portfolio based on TCO method (Total Cost of Ownership)
• Monitor wagon contract, usage & cost date and coordinate with relevant teams to gather this data which will be used to ensure an optimal wagon fleet.

Supplier & Market Intelligence

• Build strong knowledge of wagon suppliers, lessors, and OEMs active in the European steel transport ecosystem.
• Track market offerings, regulatory compliance (UIC, TSI, EN), and supplier risk exposure.
• Benchmark supplier performance, cost drivers, and technical capabilities (including modular fleets and retrofit programs).

Quality, reporting & compliance

• Quality Assurance: Contribution to the Assets team inputs to the organization's quality standards and processes.
• Reporting: Prepare regular reports on purchasing activity, cost savings, and supplier performance. 
• Follow-up of the contracts (KPI, contract review, improvement...)
• Compliance: Ensure all procurement activities comply with relevant regulations and organizational policies.

Working Conditions

The Buyer/ project manager will work primarily in an office setting, with occasional visits to suppliers' facilities. The role may require travel to attend industry conferences, trade shows, and supplier meetings.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Procurement, Engineering, Supply Chain, or Business.
• 5+ years' experience in strategic purchasing, transport procurement, or industrial asset sourcing.
• Deep knowledge of rail logistics, steel supply chains, and supplier contracting.
• Experience in negotiation, contract law basics, and safety compliance frameworks (UIC, TSI, NSA/ERA).
• Able to form good relationships with supplier and be able to manage key stakeholders.
• Able to prepare strategy, to establish partnership with key accounts.
• Skills:
  • Strong analytical, interpersonal, and commercial decision-making skills.
  • Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
  • Self-driving and motivated
  • Able to manage key stakeholders
  • Strong analytical and decision-making abilities. 
  • Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Languages: Fluent in English; other European languages (e.g., French, German) are a plus.

Nice to Have

• Experience handling modular wagon systems, retrofits, or multimodal procurement.
• Exposure to litigation support or regulatory case management.
• Familiarity with European rail safety regulations and technical documentation (UIC Leaflets, EN standards).

What We Offer

• Strategic ownership and impact.
• Cross-border exposure across leading European markets.
• Strong mentoring, development, and long-term career growth in transport and industrial procurement.

Please submit your CV in English